Transmission mechanism



June 17, 1924. 1,497,729

W. L. MCGRATH TRANSMISS ION MECHANISM Filed Oct. 24. 1921 2 Sheets-inset 1 June 17 1924 1,497,729

w. l.. MCGRATH TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed Oct. 24A 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS Patented J une 17, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM L. MC'GRATH, oELiiuRA. NEW Yoiuiz, AssIGNoil, iro cLIPs' remniina'y PATENT oFFi'C-;

COMPANY, or ELL/LIRA, NEW YORK, A c'oRPoRA'rIo 0F NEXJV YORK.

tiANsMIssro-N MEGmsM.

Application file oter 24. 1921'. senin no. sm. "*f

To all whom it may conce-ir:

Be it` known that I, '7VIL'LIMILIAMC GRATH. a citizen of Vthe United Stti' 0f America, d isidenf ofEimix-m'eiew York, have invented new and ilpsefillA Irnprovei'nientsy in Trrisiissioii Mechanism, which invention is' fily set for-th in the following` specifieafio. i V

The present iiii/etion rlts fio power transmission devi-ces,A nd has. fr one of its objects to provide si sr'nple, drabl', economini and fiiiet tmure hat my be readily ssembid on' either side (if the diiven iner'nbei` with ifhh it isl sseiid; thlt is ffooljijioof n iristlletion and operation; that imposes 1no. fiddiizinl strin on the bearings of the driirei rneinbr itid requires n Chanfehin'said ieriigs or their mountings; tiit irrip-rs iotary movement drivin@ meinberin eiilher direction; that trnsmts power frorii therdiiviiig to he driven member "radually progressive y; that retards or bak'es`,n thrgh" the power nasffmng Ineens, me @vement f fue driifen neiiibr b'j/ reierse o'tt-iofl of the diivin'" meinber; and that applies the iefrdancey or hr2-king 'Joiy gradually and progressively; end that faerxnits'hendrivfen member to rotate freiy in eihe'i difecfzion.

The invention is pa'i'licu'ly aldpted for peculiar application in Vcojneeton with childiens vehi'eles. as it enables siichto be sed in coasting, and to be driven boi/ii foi'- xivtdlynd b'a.kw;rdl)`f, he 'sline driving means being also ilsed to brake the vehicle in eiihei dii'eebi'on of travel," iidnflie fio` the riv- :'s so latter occupies the space between the nut 1Q and the tlange 11. This annulus is secured to the hub by any suitable means to par ticipate in all o-f the movements thereof, As here shown, said annulus is screwthreaded thereon, so as to be readily sccurefl theretoor removed therefrom:

Surrounding the axle and interposed between the inner end of the sleeve 4 and a shoulder 16 on the hub is a resilient or yielding member, here shown as a pluralityr of cupped spring washers 17. and inter*- posed between the inner end ofthe sleeve 5 and a shoulder 18 on the hub 6 are similar' cupped spring washers .19. These spring members are not under initial pressure1 but are arranged to resist any longitudinal or axial movement of the hub, and act to abq sorb the thrust of such `axial movement. Accordingly,no additional or added strain i's imposed on theV bearings 7 by the use of the present invention, and these bea-rings are not required to. be of greater capacity than in a machine not equipped vvith myinvention.

As Will be observed from the drawing, there is a definite clearance at 20 and 21 between the lateral extremities of the hub 6 and the sleeves 4 and 5, and a similar clearance between thenlanges 11 and 15.V The parts are illustrated in theposition which they would occupy if the device was coastf in down a hill land the drivin -member or an e was not rotating,'as woul be the case if the pedals were not being turned. The parts also occupy the position which -they would assume if the device were atl rest.

Assuming that the deviceis at rest and that itis desired tol propel .the same forwardly, rotationI of the axle 1,. by means of the pedals and cranks 2 will act torotate the sleeve 5- and, by reason of the inertia of the parts, or the action ofthe spring 22 that .engages the body portion 12, the nut has imparted thereto an axial movement so that the faceof the same is engaged with the face ofthe flange 15 with sufficient longitudinal pressure to ,frictionally clam the surfaces together. As soon as this is e eoted, the nut 10 will rotate with the sleeve 5 and the-driving member l, and thismovement of rotation -jvill be imparted tothe flange lrand also to the hub 6 with which'said fiange-.is connected and fformsa part, and Athe-:hub will barqtated ina ,clockwise direction, To Epreagent. thaengagement ofthe nut` l0 with the, flange i 1 514 from initiating therotation ,.previded means4 whereby the f:application of ,the d'lvlflg iftriitothe -hub is gradually A,and progressivelyapplied, As herevshown, fthezspring r.vrashe-rs.1.7, act .to resist the axial movement of the hub G- ,whenthe nut lOenageyshgflange 15, and. thef takeup off the nre' @tiroir-sarthe tration#- ensesmnt 0f said parts is cushioned by the compression of said spring Washers. lVhile the provision of this cushioning means is desirable in connection with forward driving, it is cit particular importance where the saine engagement of the nut 10 and flange 15 is effected for retarding or braking purposes.

When it is desired to coast, all that it is necessary to do is to stop the rotation of the shaft or axle 1 by ceasing to rotate it by means of the cranks and pedals, whereupon the continued rotation of the wheel and hub 6 in a forward direction causes the nut 10 to rotate in the same direction, thus automatically effecting disengagement between the adjacent. surfaces of the nut 1() and the flange 15, and the hub 6 Will then be released -to freely coast on the sleeves i and 5.

If, now, 4 While coasting down hill and With the wheel rotating in a clockwise direcvtion it is desired to bring about retardation or braking effect, a rotation of the sha-ft or axle 1 in a counter-clockwise, direction will cause' the collar 5 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and the nut 10 and the flan e 1,1 will accordingly be moved toward the eft as seen in Fi 1, with the result that the adjacent faces of flanges 11 and 15 will be engaged, this frictional engagement being bruught about by the longitudinal pressure exerted through the screwthreads 9. This action will result in a shifting of the hub 6 axially toward the left, as vseen in4 Fig. 1, the pressure being cushioned by ,the compression of the cupped spring. Washersv 19 so that the application of the frictional braking is gradual and progressive in its effect. This is a matter of great importance as, withoutthe interposition of means for applyingthe braking pressure gradually and progressively, the braking power would be applied suddenly and abruptly, with danger to the child. By means of the present invention, the rotation of the wheel is under perfect control and it may be slowed or, brought to a'stop in an easy, natural and normal manner by simply back-pedaling.

If the Wheel is beingr rotated backwards, or if the child is coasting baclrwardly down a hill` the speed of the wheel may be retarded or .the wheel brought to rest by rotating the shaft or .axle 1 in a cloclrwise'direction, in Whichevent theadjacent faces of the nut 10 and thetiangerl, which were former- Vly engaged for forward driving, would again beengaged to effect the retarding or braking action. In the latter case, the cupped springs 17 .wouldact to effect the gradual and progressive application ofthe braking force. V v

. In many instances, the inertia of the nut 10 and its associated member 11 and 12will be su'icient to insurethe longitudinal or axial displacement of the same to effect .either the driving or the braking action delos 1 reference has heretofore been made.

iii

scribed, but in other instances it may be desii-ed to positively insure this longitudinal displacement of the nut 10, in which event I may employ the light spring 22 to Whiph l shown. this spring 22 may be carried by one of the forks 8 and is provided with a flange portion 22 that engages one face of the element 12, the lower end of the spring 22 engaging the other face of said element. The provision of Some means for positively insuring the axial displacement of the nut is desirable Where the presence of oil, Water. dirt or other foreign substances is to be provided against.

Various other means for insuring this dis placement of the nut 10 may be utilized as shown in Figs. 5, 6. 7 and 8.

In Fig. 5 is shown a plunger 23 carried by a casing 24 on the fork 8. A coiled spring 25 forces the plunger into engagement with serrations 26 formed in a flange 27 ou the nut 10. It will be observed that. after a slight longitudinal movement of the {iange 27 either to the right or to the left. the plunger 25 will be disengaged therefrom so that the parts will revolve freely. Fig. (i is a face View of the flange 27.

In Figs. 7 and 8. the nut l0 is shown provided with Serrations 28 in the tace thereof which are engaged by a button 29 carried by a` spring 30 which is secured in any suitable manner to the fork 8. as by screws 3l. A slight movement of the nut- 1() toward the right will cause the disengagement oi the button 29 from the serrations 28 so that, in the normal driving movement. the parts will be disengaged and. in this position.. driving or rotation will be tree of any clicking drag. In reverse driving. there would be a clicking1 drag.

This modification. instead of utilizing the driving axle l with cranks 2 on the ends ot' the same` employs cranks 2 provided with extensions 32 Which are square in cross-section and which engage a sleeve 33 that in turn is engaged by the sleeves fiand 5 heretofore described.. This structure permits ot the assembling of the hub and cooperating parts so that they may be placed between the .bearings and the other parts then assembled through either side. on the principle of what is known as the knock out axle" type.

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. l. except that. in place of driving the axle l by means ot pedals. as is usual in velocipede constructions, I here drive the axle through the sleeve 4" by means of a sprocket 34.- which is secured thereon in Vany suitable manner. As here shown. this sprocket is screw-threaded onto the sleeve it. with one face engaging a flange 35 on the sleeve 4". The sprocket is heid in place by a lock nut 36. ri`his sprocket may be driven by any suitable means, for example a chain running to another sprocket driven by pedal cranks as in the ase oi' the usual form oi bicycle.

The arrangement and mounting of the improved device is such that the assembly may be reversed and the sleeve 5 and the nut llt and its associated parts located at [he right-hand side of the hub. if desired.

It is immaterial. for the purposes of thepresent invention. whether the thread 9 on the sleeve be a right or a lett-hand thread, since the action is precisely the same in either direction of rotation, and it is therefore pointed out that erroneous assembly of the device in the vehicle will have no detrimental cifect. The device is. accordingly, one that does not require in its assembly and mounting highly skilled labor. and is therefore. to an exceptional degree, what mightr be called fool-proof." Further. the provision ol' protective or cushioning members whereby the driving and braking power is gradually and progressively applied, insures a maximum of safety to the child or other user ot the device and imparts an exceptional element oi'I durability to the Structure.

Vihile. for the purposes oi" illustration, various embodiments of the inventive idea have been herein shown and described, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto but that the inventive idea is susceptible ot' y'arious mechanical expressions within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a transmission mechanism. a driving member and a driven member. mechanism adapted to impart rotary movement to the driven member on rotation of the driving member in either direction, and yieldable means interposed between said driving and driven. member whereby the power from the driving member is gradually applied to the driven member in either direction of rotation.

2. In a transmission mechanism. a driving member. a driven member. mechanism adapted vto impart rotaryv and axial movement to the driven member on rotation of the driving member in either direction. and yieldable means interposed between said driving and driven members whereby the power from the driving member is gradually and progressively applied to the driven member in either direction of rotation.

3. In a transmission mechanism. a driving member and a driven member arranged for reiative rotary and axial movement. mechanism adapted to impart rotary and axial movement to the driven member on rotation of the driving' member in either direction. and vieldablc means coacting with the driving and driven members and. normally retarding relative axial movement therebetween.

4. ln a transmission mechanism. a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial movement, mechanism adapted to impart rotary and axial movement to the driven member on rotation of the driving member in either direction, and yieldable means interposed between thc driving and driven members and forming a cushion therebetween on rotation ot the driving member.

5. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial movement. mechanism adapted to impart rotary and axial movement to the driven member on rotation of the driving member in either direction, said mechanism comprising a mit having threaded engagement with one of said members and movable on rotation the-reci" for engagement with means on the other of said members, and yieldable means roacting with the driving and driven members for normally retarding relative axial movement of said members, said yieldable means forming a. cushion between the driving and driven members on rotation of the driving member in either direction.

6. The combination of a supporting frame, a driving member and a driven member mounted for relative rotation on said frame, transmission mechanism carried by said members and adapted to impart rotation to the driven member on rotation ot the driving member in either direction. a member carried by said frame and engaging said transmission means to prevent rotation of the vlatter with said driving member.

7. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial movement. and mechanism adapted to rotate the driven member and move the same axially on rotation of the driving member in either direction.

8. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial movement, mechanism adapted to rotate the driven member and move the same axially on rotation ot the driving member in either direction, and means interposed between the driving member and the driven member tor normally retarding relative axial movement therebetween.

9. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial movement. mechanism adapted to impart rotary :and axial movement to the driven member on rotation ot the driving member in either direction, yieldable means coacting with the driving and driven members and Jforming a cushion therebetween on rotation of the driving member in either direction, and means for preventing rotation of said mechanism with said driving member.

l0. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial movement, and mechanism adapted to impart rotary and axial movement to the driven member on rotation of the driving member in either direction, said mechanism being adapted to retard rotation ot the driven member on reverse rotation ol the driving member.

1l. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial movei'nent. and mechanism adapted to rotate and move the driven member axially on rotation ot' the driving member in either direction, said mechanism providing tor free rotation ot' the driven member in either direction withN out affecting the driving member.

12. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial movement, and mechanism adapted to impart rotary and axial movement to the driven member on rotation ot the driving member in either di* rection, said mechanism including frictional means on one ot said members and movable thereby for engagement with tric/tional means on the other of said members.

13. In a transmission mechanism. a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial movement, mechanism adapted to impart rotary and axial movement to the driven member on ro tation of the driving member in either direcv tion, said mechanism comprising frietional means on one of said members movable on rotation thereof for engagement with trictional means on the other of said members, and yieldable means interposed between the driving and driven members and adapted to form a cushion therebetween on rotation of the driving member in either direction.

14. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member, means for rotating said driven member on rotation of the driving member, said means comprising a iiange on the driven member and means on the driving member axially movable thereby for engagement with either tace ot said Bange, and yieldable means interposed between the driving member and the driven member.

l5. In a. transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member, means for rotating said driven member on rotation of the driving member, said means comprising a. iange on the driven member and means on the driving member axially movable thereby for engagement with either face ot said flange, and yieldable means interposed between the driving member and the driven member and adapted to form a cushion therebetween on rotation of the driving member.

16. In a device of the character described, the combination of a driving member, a pair of sleeves carried thereby, a driven member rotatable on said sleeves. means t'or moving said driven member axially with relation to said sleeves, and resilient members interposed between said sleeves and driven member for absorbing the axial thrust.

17. In combination, a driving member and a driven member, means for transmitting driving power in either direction to the driven member and applying braking action to the driven member by reverse rotation of the driving member. and resilient means interposed between the driving member and the driven member adapted to yieldingly ape ply the braking action to said driven member.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination of a driving member, a pair of abutments carried thereby, a rotatable driven member, means for moving said driven member axially with relation to said ahutments, and resilient means interposed between said abutments and driven member for absorbing the axial thrust.

19. ln a device of the character described, the combination of a drivingl member, apair of abutments keyed thereto. a driven inember rotatable on said abutments, means for moving said driven member axially with relation to said abutments. and resilient means interposed between said ahutments and said driven member for absorbingIr the axial thrust.

Q0. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member. mechanism adapted to impart rotary movement to the driven member on rotation of the driving member in either direction, vieldable means interposed between said driving and driven member whereby the power from the driving member is gradually applied to the driven member in either direction ot' rotation, and a device for retarding the rotation of said mechanism.

2l. In a transmission mechanism. a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial movement., mechanism adapted to impart rotary and axial movement to the driven member on rotation of the driving member in either direction, lvieldable means coacting with the drivingr and driven members and normally retarding relative axial movement therebetween, and a device for retarding the rotation of said mechanism.

2Q. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial movement, mechanism adapted to rotate the driven member and move the same axially on rota.- tion of the driving member in either direction. and a device for retarding the rotation of said mechanism.

23. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member arranged for relative rotary and axial. movement, mechanism adapted to impart rotary and axial movement to the driven member on rotation of the driving member in either direction, said mechanism being adapted to retard rotation ot the driven member or reverse rotation of the driving member. and a device t'or retarding the rotation of said mechanism.

2t. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member arranged l'or relative rotary and axial movement, mechanism adapted to rotate and move the driven member axially on rotation of the drivin,r member in either direction. said mechanism providing for Yfree rotation olE the driven member in either direction Without affecting the driving member, and a device for retarding the rotation of said mechanism.

Q5. In a transmission mechanism, a driving member and a driven member arranged ['or relative rotary and axial movement, mechanism adapted to impart rotary and axial movement to the driven member on rotation otl the driving member in either direction. said mechanism including .frictional means on one oi said members and movable thereby 'for engagement with trictional means on the other of said members, and a device for retarding the rotation of said mechanism.

26. ln a transmission mechanism, a driving member. a driven member freely rotatable on said driving member. and means for moving said driven member along the driving' member whereby said members are coupled to rotate together. said means comprisingr a tial/ige on the driven member and a device surrounding said flange and normally spaced. from its opposed faces, said device being threaded on the driving member and movable into engagement with said ange by rotation of the driving member in either direction.

2T. In a transmission mechanism, a rotatable axle, a ground-engaging Wheel mounted on said axle and normally free to rotate in either direction with respect thereto. and means for moving said Wheel along the axle whereby the two are coupled to rotate together. said means comprising a Harige on said wheel and a member surrounding said flange and normally spaced from its opposed faces. said member being threaded on the axle and movable into engagement with the Harige on rotation of the axle in either direction. said flange and member being adapted to exert a braking action on the wheel by reverse rotation of the axle.

28. In a transmission mechanism, the combination oi a prime mover and a driven member, means for transmitting driving power in either direction to the driven member and applying a braking action to the driven member by reverse rotation ot' the prime mover, and a device for retarding the rotation of said means.

29. In a transmissionmechanism, the Combination of a prime mover and a driven member, means for transmitting driving power in either direction to the driven member and applying a braking action to the driven member by reverse rotation of the prime mover and permittinr free rotation of the driven member in either direction independent of the prime mover, and a device f or retarding the rotation of said means.

in testimony whereof 1 have signed this specification.

- WILLIAM. L. MCGRATH. 

